Desk memorandum pad



Aug. 11, 1942. H. M. MOHR DESK MEMORANDUM PAD Filed Aug. '7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l lh ventor' I Herman M. Mohr';

f, His Attorney.

Aug. 11; 1942. H. M. MOHR DESK MEMORANDUM PAD Filed Aug. 7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Her-man M.

M hr,

ofney;

His Att Patented Aug. 11, 1942 a u I 2,292,895

- UNITED STATES PTENT. OFFICE DESK MEMORANDUM PAD Herman M. Mohr, Schenectady, N; Y.

Application August 7, 1940 Serial'No. 351,677

8 Claims.

arrangements and which affords advantages not offered thereby.

It'is an object of my'invention to provide a new and improved desk or memorandum pad.

It is'another object of my invention to provide a desk or memorandum pad of simple design and construction and which may be easily and readily manufactured.

It is a further object of my invention toprovide a, padwith a writing surface inclined at a convenient angle and which is free from projections or. other sources of irritation to the hand and wristrof the user.

It is a still further object of my invention to providea desk pad whichmay be quickly and,

easily collapsed into a flat, compact whole for easy packing and shipment.

For abetter understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the following description; taken'in connection with the accompanying drawings, andits scope will be pointed out in the appended claims. Fig. 1 illustrates my memorandum pad assembled and in condition for use. Fig. 2 illustrates the roll supporting means in position. on the base with the paper roll removed and the upper portion of the article supporting means. cut away. Fig. 3 is an exploded view, partly in section, showing the relation of the roll supporting means tothe base. Fig. 4 shows my pad in the collapsed position ready to be wrappedrand packed for shipment.

Briefly stated, in accordance with the illustratedembodiment of my invention, I provide an improved desk memorandum padhaving a removable'means for supporting a roll of paper and which permits arrangement or assembly of the componentparts in a manner to reduce substantially the-size of the package required for shipment. In addition, the base of the pad is formed of a suitable .material, such as sheet metal or a plastic compound, and comprises a memorandum has been made. face .2 also includes a slot 5 through which suitably inclined writing surface and a substantially semi-cylindrical surface at one end arranged to support the roll of paper. An article supporting means for supporting display articles face 2, and a curved portion or surface 3 constituting an extension of the base member. The

curved portion or surface 3 is preferably semi-,

cylindrical in form and'is arranged transverse to the'longitudinal axis of the writing surface.

It will be seen that a side elevation or longitudinal sectional view of the base takes the form of or assumes the general appearanceof a spoon, with the handle of the spoon forming the writing surface and the bowl forming the aforesaid curved portion. The base I may be readily made of a single sheet of material, such as a sheet metaLwhich lends itself to stamping operations; that is, the base member may be formed from a single sheet of sheet metal and stamped into the form shown by the usual stamping or forming process. It will be noted that the angle between the writing surface, 2 and the surface supporting the pad is such that it affords a convenient writing surface. I have found that a convenient angle is that in the neighborhood of fifteen degrees. It 'is to be noted that the writing surface 2'is free of obstructions or straps, thereby preventing annoyance in use of the pad.

The writing surface 2 is provided with a forward cutting edge or knife edge 4 which serves as a means for cutting ortearing that portion of the strip of paper .upon which a note or The writing surthe sheet of paper extends and which serves to guide the strip of paper as it'is pulled along the writing surface and to hold the paper in place ,I provide pads or cushioning means 6, 1 and 8. The pad 6 is preferably arranged at the bottom of the curved surface 3 and the pads 1 and 8 are preferably arranged near the forward end of the writing surface. The pads I and 8 may be of the ordinary suction type formed of a plastic material such as rubber. Cushioning means or a pad 6 may be constructed of a material such as sponge rubber, if desired.

I provide removable means for supporting a roll of writing paper 9. This supporting means is preferably arranged to be supported by the curved surface 3 and is removable so that the overall height of the article is substantially reduced when prepared for shipment.

The roll of paper 9 is supported within the curved surface 3 by suitable L-shaped supporting arms I described hereinafter. Immediatelyin front of the roll 9, I provide an article supporting means, such as a pivoted or hinged plate I I. This plate may also be punched from sheet. metal and may be supported from the base member I by means of ears I2 which are directly punched from the material of the base. The article supporting means is providedwith -opposed struckup channels I3 adapted'to support-therebetween one or more pieces'of display material I4, such as calendars, pictures,-tabulated data, "or the like. Outwardly extending lugs II on-member 'I'I fit into holes-provided in the ears I2.

Forwardlyextending fingers I5 on-member II serve as supports for one or more writing instruments, suchas pens or pencils. As shown in Fig. 4 discussed hereinaften these fingers are spaced far enough apart to-permit the member -I I -to be rotated forwardly so that it lies substantially flat against the writing space 2. The ears -I 2-, in addition to supporting the member I I, also may serve as a guiding means for the paperstrip.

Additional article supporting means maybe provided onmember'll in theform of a wire clamp member or clip member 'I6,'heldin place at the back 'of the member II by punched-out eyes IT. The members II and I6 together serve as a clamp to hold any pieces of paper or memorandum which maybe desirable 'forthe user to maintain at hand. A clamp member-similar to member I6 may be disposed on the-front of the article supporting means of member-H, -if desired.

I provide means for positioning or maintaining the article supporting 'member -I I- ata' proper angle. This-positioning means may-be formed by curved extensions of the clip member l6 which supports the-member II and which at the same time do not interfere with the passage'of the sheetof paper under member II. While I have shown a particular type of support for the article supporting member I I, it willbe appreciated that I may use other convenient arrangements for positioning plate member I I.

In Fig. 2 a more detailed View of my pad is illustrated showing the L-shaped members II] which support the roll 9 and also illustrates the means for fixingthe roll and supporting members to the base. The curved portion 3 of the base may be slightly indented or channeled as at I8 to accommodate the horizontal arms of the L- shaped roll. supporting members I0. With this arrangement, the assembly of the members I0 is in such a positionthat the curved surface 3 conforms substantially to the contour of the roll 9. It is, of course,'to be understood that the channel I8 may be dispensed with, if desired, to simplify manufacture of my memorandum pad.

The L-shaped roll supporting members I0 are preferably formed so that the upper portions thereof are offset inwardly as shown at I9. This offset relieves the roll 9 of excessive friction with the members I0 due to the clamping of these members on roll 9, while at the same time it provides the arm with an initial inward bias and resiliency, thereby assuring adequate engagement of the knobs 20 with the core 2I of the roll 9. This result may also be obtained by making the angle between the vertical and horizontal arms of the members I 0 somewhat less than degrees. Either or both of these features may be incorporated if desired. The knobs 20 which extend into the openings of core 2| may be formed by a punching operation. In the horizontal arm of each of the L-shaped roll supporting members I0, I provide a slot 22. In the curved portion 3 of base I, opposed tongues 23 are struck up by a punching process and these tongues project through the slots 22 as shown in Fig. 2. In order to maintain the L-shaped supporting members in the proper position and to maintain these members in a position which offersthe desired resilience to supportfirmly the 1"oll 9,'.I provide -a suitable clamp member or spring .member24 adapted tobe pressed into place between the tongues' 23and arranged to exert. a pressure downwardly against thehorizontal arms of the .L-shaped supporting:members I0. With the spring member 24 in'place its ends are engaged by the tongues .23 thereby biasing the curvedportion .of spring member against the members III. In thismanner the vertical arms of members II] are resiliently biased towards each other due to the downward pressure exerted against the horizontal .arms by the spring member .24.

The construction of'the L-shapedsupporting members In and the spring member 24 may be more fully appreciated'by referring -to the exploded view shown in 'Fig. 3. In Fig. 3 the article supporting meansand the roll are not shown.

Fig. 4 shows my memorandum pad -in collapsed position made ready for shipment. It will be noted that the article supporting member II has been rotated for-ward vso-that it lies sub- .stantially fiatwagainst the writing surface 2.

This is made possible by designing the plate II so that the fingers I5 vare suflicient-ly far apart to clear the edges ofthe writing surface 2. The spring member 24 may be placed within the tongues 23 as illustrated, whereas the roll supporting members III are placed, as shown around the curved surface 3 sothat the-height of the article inthis position is-substantially decreased.

An'important advantage of memorandum pads constructed in accordance with my invention is that when the pad is arranged for shipment the depth of the pad'is substantially reduced. For example,.the resultant depth or height is substantially less than one-half the diameter of 'the'paper roll with which it is-to be used. This is a decided advantage, both as-to economy and convenience, in shipping articles of this nature.

Although it may bepreferable in-some instances to construct my memorandum pad from sheet metal, .it is to be understood that -I may employ .plastic materials in constructing my pad. For example, I may employany of the now well known resins or phenolic condensation products as the material for the pad.

It will be obvious 'that'a desk memorandum pad built in accordance with my invention affords considerable advantages in the display of advertising material which could be placed on the plate ll. Suitable advertising material may be attached to this plate and conveniently displayed.

Those skilled in the art will realize that changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention, and I, therefore, aim in the appended. claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A memorandum pad holder comprising a base formed from a single stamping of sheet material having a concave transverse substantially cylindrical curvature at one end thereof, the remainder of said base constituting a writing surface, roll supporting means disposed in the curved portion, removable means for retaining said roll supporting means in position, article supporting means comprising at plate member pivotally mounted intermediate the curved portion and said Writing portion and rotatable to lie substantially flat against said writing surface, and means on said article supporting means for holding a writing instrument comprising a pair of fingers spaced apart on said plate member at a distance greater than the width of said writing surface.

2. A memorandum pad comprising a base of a single stamping of sheet material having a curved portion and a writing surface, means disposed in said curved portion for supporting a roll of paper, spring clip means for removably retaining said supporting means in position, means for retaining said paper in position on said writing portion, article supporting means comprising a plate member pivoted on said base intermediate said roll and said writing surface and rotatable to lie substantially fiat against the Writing surface, a pair of fingers on said plate member for supporting a writing instrument and being spaced apart on said plate member by a distance greater than the width of said writing surface in a manner to clear the Writing surface When the plate member is rotated toward the plane of the writing surface, and positioning means for establishing the angle of inclination of said article supporting means.

3. A memorandum pad comprising a base formed of a single blank sheet substantially spoon shape in longitudinal section having a bowl portion and a handle portion, mean-s removably disposed in the bowl portion for supporting a roll of paper, means for guiding said paper along the handle portion as the paper is unrolled, article supporting means comprising a plate member, means including struck-up ears on said base for pivotally supporting said plate member, and a stop member for limiting the angle of inclination of said plate member in the direction of said roll supporting means but permitting rotation of said plate member to lie substantially fiat against the handle portion.

4. A memorandum pad holder of the continuous feed type comprising a base member having a writing surface and a concave transverse substantially cylindrical curvature at one end thereof, means mounted on said cylindrical curvature for supporting a roll of writing paper, article supporting means comprising a plate member,

and a pair of supports on said writing surface for pivotally supporting said plate member to permit rotation of said plate member to lie substantially flat against said writing surface and for guiding said paper on said writing surface.

5. A memorandum pad holder comprising a base formed from a single stamp-ing of sheet material comprising a writing surface and a concave portion, means for supporting a continuous strip of paper mounted on said concave portion, article supporting means comprising a plate member, a. pair of struck-up members on said writing surface for pivotally mounting said plate member to permit rotation of said plate member to lie substantially flat against said writing surface and for guiding said strip of paper, spring means mounted on said article supporting means for determining the angle of inclination of said plate member toward the roll supporting means and for exerting a pressure on said strip of paper.

6. A memorandum pad holder comprising a base of a single stamping of sheet material comprising a writing surface and a concave portion, means for supporting a continuous strip of paper comprising a pair of vertical supporting arms, article supporting means comprising a plate member, means on said writing surface for pivotally supporting said plate member above the plane of the writing surface in a manner to permit rotation of said plate member to lie substantially flat against the writing surface, spring means mounted on the back of said plate member to establish the angle of inclination of said plate member toward said vertical arms and for exerting a pressure on said strip of paper.

7. A memorandum pad holder comprising a base member having a plane writing surface and a concave portion, means mounted in said curved portion comprising a pair of arms for supporting a roll of paper, spring clip means for resiliently biasing said arms to engage said roll, article supporting means comprising a plate member, means mounted on said writing surface for pivotally supporting said plate member in a manner to permit rotation of said plate member to lie substantially fiat against said writing surface and for guiding the paper on said writing surface, and means mounted on said plate member for establishing the angle of inclination of said plate member toward said pair of arms and for exerting a pressure on said paper.

8. A memorandum pad holder comprising a base member forming a writing surface and a concave portion at one end of said base member, means removably disposed in said concave portion for supporting a roll of paper, means for guiding said paper across said writing surface as the paper is unrolled, article supporting means comprising a plate member, means on said base member for pivotally supporting said plate member, and a stop member for limiting the angle of inclination of said plate member in the direction of the roll supporting means but permitting rotation of said plate member to lie substantially flat against the writing surface.

HERMAN M. MOHR, 

